Wantage Town have been dealt a major blow ahead of their Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West trip to Marlow tomorrow after losing top-scorer Ben Whitehead to Premier Division title hopefuls Chippenham Town.
Whitehead has netted 18 league goals for the Alfredians, more than half their total of 32, and manager Stuart Cattell admitted he will be difficult to replace.
“Obviously it’s disappointing to see him go,” said Cattell. “But he’s gone to a side in the league above, so we wish him well.
“It just seems that when you’re at the bottom everybody wants to kick you.”
While Jimmy Deabill is a doubt with a foot injury, there are new faces at Wantage.
Spanish defender Amadeu Arnau has returned, along with midfielder Adam Doyle following his recovery from a long-term knee injury.
Midfielder Nick Kalakoutis has been recruited from Banbury United, along with former Abingdon United defender Cameron McNeil.
North Leigh have a full squad as they travel to Yate Town, while Banbury United are also at full strength for their trip to Wimborne Town.
Didcot Town have signed central midfielder Alex Woodhouse ahead of the visit of Shortwood United.
Woodhouse, a Combined Services player, who has been posted to RAF Brize Norton, is available this weekend.
“We heard that he’d just been posted to the area and that he was a decent player,” said manager Andy Ballard.
“He’s been training with us for a few weeks now and he’s done really well, so we’re excited to have him on board.”
Iames Organ is injured, while Didcot are also without Jack Powell (banneed) and Jack Longford (unavailable).
TOMORROW’S SQUADS
Wantage Tn (v Marlow, away): from Cavanagh, Whitehead, Elliott, Cattell, Collier, Carbon, Thorne, Glover, Clark, McGlynn, Hulbert-Thomas, Ferris, Deabill, Barder, Evans, Johns, Amadeu, Kalakoutis, McNeil, Doyle.
North Leigh (v Yate Tn, away): from Foster, Hole, Elkins, Westlake, M Williams, Osborne-Ricketts, Turk, McNish, Davies, Else, Cook, Seacole, L Williams, Hopkins.
Banbury Utd (v Wimborne Tn, away): from Harding, White, Steedman, Martin, Wise, Westbrook, Gunn, Stanbridge, Bell, Browne, Nash, Johnson, Howards, McEachran, Blackstock, Welch-Hayes, Barcelos.
Didcot Tn (v Shortwood Utd, home): from Bedwell, Learoyd, Carnell, Ballard, Janes, Edney, Woodley, Dutton-Black, Collins, Thompson, Gannon, Reid, Francis, Woodhouse.
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